Buy Black! (We don't sell to your kind here) Creative
Playwright
Raymond Ingram (he/him)Raymond Ingram (He/Him) is a playwright and junior theatre arts major with a concentration in acting & directing from Silver Spring, Maryland. Credits: Dreamgirls (Blackrock Center), Pipeline (Bowie State University), Mary Poppins (Adventure Theatre), & more. He hopes you enjoy his playwriting debut of the production Buy Black! (We don’t sell to your kind).
Co-Director
Brielle Bertrand (she/her)Brielle Bertrand (Co-Director) is a Junior at Bowie State university majoring in Theatre Art with a concentration in Acting and Directing. She has nine years of theatre experience and has the ability to hold a note or two. She also has community experience with theatre and film. Credits: Policing Joy (Tracey Renee Productions) Daughters of God (IAMAMANPRODUCTIONS) Lorrell Robinson in Dreamgirls (Bowie State University) Sophie Washington in Flyin West (Bowie State University).
Co-Director
Malaysha Sabria (she/her)Malaysha Sabria, a senior theatre major, has worked in multiple shows at Bowie State University. Credits include Before Closing Time (actor), Pipeline (stage manager), and Flyin West (stage manager). She is excited to share her vision for Buy Black!
Set Designer
Justus Harris (he/him)Justus Harris (Set Designer, Assistant Director) is an American actor from Charles County, Maryland. Growing up, Justus was involved in many different sports and hobbies including football, basketball, baseball, robotics club, and STEM team. It was during his senior year in high school, Justus found his true passion in acting.
Stage Manager
Leila Ellis (she/her)
Co-Lighting Designer
Keisha Brown (she/her)Keisha Brown is a rising senior theatre major at Bowie State University. Ms. Brown has been involved with production projects since Fall 2022. Keisha has held the position as a ‘Stage Manager Assistant for Flyin’ West (Fall 2022), and Medea (Spring 2023). She has enjoyed designing and operating lights for the upcoming (Fall 2023) production Buy Black!
Co-Lighting Designer
Bria Mukes (she/her)Bria Mukes (she/her) (Co-lighting designer) is a Bowie State University theater major with a concentration of dance and movement studies. A graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts which she had the opportunity to explore and perform in many showcases including at the Kennedy Center, International Association of Blacks in Dance, Alvin Ailey Extension Program, as well as design and produce her senior showcase.
Co-Sound Designer
Anaiya Imani (she/her)Anaiya Imani is a senior theatre arts major with a concentration in acting and directing. Anaiya has been involved in several productions like Joe Turner's Come And Gone by August Wilson (Academy for Performing Arts). Anaiya also served as light board operator for Much Ado About Nothing (Kent State University). Anaiya is Co-Sound Designer for this production and looks forward to seeing the final product. Thank you for coming to see Buy Black! (We don’t sell to your kind).
Sound Designer
MaLeah Diggs (she/her)MaLeah Diggs is a 21- year old Senior majoring in Theatre Arts with a concentration in acting and directing. With her God-given gifts and talents, she began studying theatre throughout middle and high school continuing her passion for it through college. Her latest endeavor was her work with Theatre Alliance on a "DMV IDEA ". MaLeah is excited to be working as sound designer on her first Bowie State Production.
Costume Designer
Ani Clarke (she/her)Ani Clarke is a Junior at Bowie State University majoring in Visual Communication and Digital Media Arts. This is her 3rd production at BSU that she is involved in, while she usually spends her time on stage, this is her first time working backstage and specializing in Costume Design!
Costume Assistant
Da'aja GrayDa’aja Gray is an African-American sophomore at Bowie State University,. majoring in VCDMA (Visual Communications & Digital Media Arts) with a concentration in Animation & Motion Graphics. She’s working towards having her own studio that produces video games, adult animation, and comic books. Even though she's not pursuing any kind of acting career, she still admires the behind-the-scenes of productions and her role as Assistant Costume Designer in Buy Black! (we don't sell to your kind).
Costume Assistant
Rodney Loper
Props Manager
Justin Nembhard (he/him)Justin is a Senior Theater Arts Major with a concentration in Acting/Directing. He wants to work in film and start his own production company. Justin loves to create visual art whether it’s photography or cinematography. This will be Justin’s third production he's involved in on campus and his first time working with a production team for any play..
Faculty Directing Mentor/Producer/Fight Choreographer
Elena Velasco (she/ella)Elena Velasco is a director/choreographer whose work is grounded in decolonized, consensus-organized processes, predominantly serving DC and Greater Boston. Credits: Convergence Theatre (Founding Artistic Director), GALA Hispanic, 1st Stage, Synetic Theater, Keegan Theatre, NextStop Theatre, and Central Square Theatre. SDCF Barbara Whitman Award; associate theatre professor at Bowie State University.
Lighting Mentor/Master Electrician
Steven Barker (he/him)Steven Barker has been a theatre-maker and educator for the last 20+ years. He holds an MFA in Theatre for Youth from Arizona State University (ASU) a BFA in Theatre Education and a BS in Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Steven has been involved professionally in over 70+ productions in his 20+ year career. Combining his skills in arts administration, technical theatre, and community arts, Steven became the Technical Director of the Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, MD in the Fall of 2021.
Electrics crew/Stagecraft
Nadia KuffarBowie State University Faculty and Staff
Theatre Arts Full-time Faculty
Dr. Truly Austin, Bob Bartlett, Jennifer Dorsey, Kathryn Kawecki, Elena Velasco
Theatre Adjunct Faculty
Baye Harrell, Quynn Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Chil Kong, Deidra Starnes, Devin Nikki Thomas, Michelle Washington
DFPA Staff
Tracy Lynn Barwick, Noah Hudson, Cheryl Lee
Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair
Tewodross Melchishua Williams
University President
Dr. Aminta Breaux
University Provost
Dr. Guy-Alain Amoussou
College of Arts and Sciences Dean
Dr. George Acquaah
College of Arts and Sciences Associate Dean
Dr. Monifa Love